NEW YORK (AP) Roberta Vinci, last year's U.S. Open runner-up, is back in the quarterfinals.

The seventh-seeded Italian beat 99th-ranked Lesia Tsurenko 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Sunday. Vinci has never reached the quarters at any of the other three Grand Slams, but she's now done it four times at Flushing Meadows.

She made her first major final here last year at age 32, stunning Serena Williams in the semis to thwart the American's Grand Slam bid.

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Vinci has been bothered by an injured left Achilles tendon and struggled physically at times Sunday. Exhausted after the match, she had tears in her eyes.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko had never been past the third round at a major before this tournament.